Adani Defence & Aerospace and Italy’s Leonardo have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a localized helicopter manufacturing and sustainment ecosystem in India. The partnership will initially focus on the AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM platforms for the Indian Armed Forces and will follow a phased indigenization approach covering assembly, maintenance, repair, overhaul, and pilot training. The collaboration aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and is aimed at meeting projected demand for more than 1,000 helicopters over the next decade. Localized production is also expected to support civil aviation needs and integrate Indian suppliers into Leonardo’s global supply chain.
